January 30, 2024 – Hartford, WI – Benjamin “Ben” Clement Thorn, 91, of Hartford, Wisconsin, entered eternal life Sunday, January 28, 2024, at the Lake Country Nursing Home in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin.
He was born August 2, 1932, in Hartford, WI to Mary K (nee Mueller) and Benjamin M. Thorn. He was united in marriage to the love of his life, Marion H. Best on August 15, 1953, in West Bend, WI and were married for nearly 70 years.
Ben was strong in his faith and a long-time member of Peace Lutheran Church in Hartford where he served as president of the church council and later established membership at St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in Slinger. Ben served our country in the United States Navy during the Korean War. He was a proud and active VFW member of Post#8834 for 55+ years and served as commander. He also was active in city politics and served as an alderman in Hartford.
Ben retired from Wacker Corporation and was employed as an independent insurance agent for Farmers Insurance Group. He also owned and operated Ben’s Tap in Hartford for many years. His sense of humor and dedication to his church, family, friends, and work is what made him successful and how he would like to be remembered.
Ben is survived by his loving children, Bonnie (Kurt) Ritter, Terri (Michael) Strong, Cindy (Greg) Page, Ben (Christine) Thorn, and Steven (Traci) Thorn; cherished grandchildren Craig, Jason, Meghan, Jessica, Amanda, Lindsay, Andrew, Alex, Ashley, Aaron, Aysiah, Kelsey, and Tyler; 23 cherished great-grandchildren and 1 great-great-grandchild. He is further survived by his sister-in-law, Nancy Brown, among other loved relatives and friends.
Ben was preceded in death by his parents; parents-in-law, Henrietta and Fred Best; siblings, Frank, Robert, Betty (nee Zingzeim), and Virginia; siblings-in-law, Inez Thorn, Vern Zingzeim; his beloved wife, Marion; and infant granddaughter, Jennifer Becker.
Funeral Service for Ben will be held Friday, February 2, 2024, at 11 a.m. at St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, 799 St. Paul Dr., Slinger, WI 53086, with Rev. Ben Golisch officiating. Family will greet relatives and friends at the church on Friday from 9:00 a.m. – 11 a.m. Interment at 2:15 p.m. in Pleasant Hill Cemetery, Hartford, WI with military honors.
Contributions in memory of Ben are appreciated to St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church-Slinger.
